Self-playing musical instrument.



P. WIRSCHING. SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOA'IION FILED HAB. 15, 1906. RENEWED FEB. 11, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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UNITE STATES PA'INT OFFIC.

PHILIP? WIRSCHING, OF SALEM, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIRSGI-IING- ORG-AN COMPANY, OE SALEM, OHIO.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed March 15, 1906, Serial No. 306,256. Renewed February 11, 1909. Serial No. 477,465.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to auto-pneumatic or self-playing mechanisms for musical instruments and is adapted more particularly for use in connection with pipe organs having several organ divisions, as for example, a first or great organ and a second or swell organ equipped with suitable stop and coupler devices. It may, however, be extended, by mere multiplication of parts, to

a greater number of organ divisions, or on the contrary limited to a one manual instrument.

More particularly stated the invention contemplates means whereby the performer,

. although unskilled as a musician, may pick out certain notes for producing obligato or solo effects upon one of the organ divisions, silence all other notes in that particular organ, and at the same time allow the accompaniment to be played upon another o-rgan division; or, at his option, silence all parts except the notes of a solo. He may cause the accompaniment to be played upon the first organ, and the melody or obligato to be played upon the second organ as is ordinarily the case; or, when the lpresent invention is applied to organs employing duplex wind-chests constructed in conformity with the teachings of my pending application for Letters-Patent Serial No. 280,701, the performer may reverse the tonal effects of the instrument, playing the accompaniment upon the second organ and the melody upon the iii-st.

As is well understood all of the better class of automatic players constructed and operated upon the perforated sheet-music principle are provided with means under control of the operator for governing` and regulating the speed or rate of movement of the music and consequently the tempo of the rendition. The present invention presupposes this mechanical feature, although such Y is not herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application: Figure l is a transverse vertical section of my invention taken through the music rolls, tracker board, motor-chamber, action bars, and controller devices. Fig. 2 is a view partly in section of the venting motor-pneumatics or bellows valves, individual valve chambers adjacent to the second or melody organ action-bar, and the membrane valves within said chambers. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of the reciprocating controller and its supporting frame, and Fig. 4C is a front elevation on a reduced scale of the music bearing rolls surmounting the oppositely arranged controller slide valves.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, l indicates a perforated music sheet, 2 the music spool, and 3 the take-up roll all of ordinary and well known construction.

The numeral 4L indicates the tracker board perforated as usual by parallel ports 5 over the outer end whereof the sheet l is adapted to pass, and to the opposite or inner end whereof are affixed motor tubes 6 one for each note embraced in the tracker range. Each of the tubes 6 communicates directly with the interior of its particular motor pneumatic 7 contained within a common motor box or exhaust chamber 8. Beneath said box or exhaust chamber 8 is aflixed a parallel series of bellows valves 9 each fitted with a pallet l0 on the underside of its movable member, and normally maintained in an inflated position by action of a spring 11 as shown. By means of individual ports l2 these bellows-valves are placed in direct communication with their respective ported valve pockets 13, formed in one wall of the chamber 8, and are thus adapted to communicate either with the interior of said chamber or with the outside atmosphere according to the position of valves lll under control of the motor pneumatics 7. Obviously when communication is established with the exhaust chamber S the valves 9 collapse, unseating their pallets 10 for purposes that will later appear. Arranged transversely beneath the said bellows-valves 9 are action bars l5 and 16 of which there may be one for each organ division of the instrument, in the present illustrations there being but two shown corresponding with or relating to the first and second organs.

These bars l5, 1G are broken by parallel borings or wind ways l? each obstructed in t-he course ot its length by a partition lo and adapted to be opened in pairs to the atinos phere above upon the removal ot theii respective pallets l0, as hereinbetore described. At their opposite or lowermost ends the borings or wind ways 17 are fitted with action tubes 19 and 2O leading to intermediate stations ot the tirst and second organs respectively. r.the construction and operation ot said intermediate stations is well understood, and tor this reason they are not herein shown or described.

Adjacent to the action bar l5 is a universal valve-chamber 2l containing membrane valves Q2, or a sheet ot' tlexible impervious material constituting` in ettect individual membrane valves, arranged to bridge each ot the partitions 1S ot the wind ways 1T, which latter would otherwise open directly into said chamber 21. Leading trom the interior ot this chamber 21 is an air duct 23 serving normally to exhaust the same to the atmosphere or on the contrary to charge it with wind pressure according to circunn stances. The numeral 24C indicates a unison or universal release box containing air under pressure, and also containing a small pneumatic motor 25, the latter controlling` a double valve 26-27 alternately guarding opposite ends ot' a through port Q8 intersected by duct Q3 from the chamber :2l as aforesaid. Leading trom the interior ot the last named motor 25 is an exhaust tube 29 the end whereof is normally closed by a spring-pressed pallet 30 adapted to be unseated at will ot' the performer by a thrust ot the piston 3l located adjacent to the organ key-boards. Obviously this ope ation results in charging the chamber 2l with pressure from box 24 and closing all valves 22 for the purpose ot silencing all accompaniment notes, as will later appear. Similarly upon the opposite side of, and adjacent to the action bar 1G are arranged valve chambers 32 but, (littering from the chamber 2l, these are individual chambers one tor each note embraced in the tracker rz'mge. llVithin the individual valve chambers 32 are located membrane valves 83 similar to the valves 22, and in like manner adapted to establish communication between the two sections ot each wind-way 17 around the partition 18 therein, but only when one or more of said chan'ibers 32 are vented to the atmosphere in the manner which will now be described.

In convenient proximity to the key board ot the instrument are located sliding con troller valves 3411 and which are identical in construction and are adapted to reciprocate upon a continuous valve seat or distributing bar 3G. This seat or bar 36 is penetrated upon its rear side by a series ot horizontal boi-ings 37 each intersected by a vertical boring 3S corresponding in number to ports 5 ot the tracker board7 and all opening to the atmosphere except at such times as they may be covered by the said sliding controller valves 3ft-35. Leading trom each oit' said borings 37 an air duct 3i), which, passing' through the tace board yt0 enters its particular individual valve chamber 32 tor the purpose ot venting the saine and releasing its valve 33 when occasion arises. rthe reciprocating Yalves 35 are hollow in cross section as shown at- /-tl, and this space constitutes a pressure channel which is at all times charged b v way ot inlet ports 4t2 t'rom any convenient wind truuk (not shown) in the organ. Accordingly, when all borings 3S are thus covered by the controller valves Slt-*35 there is pressure in all valve chambers 32, all valves are seated and this organ silenced.

Secured to the controller valves ?st-55 by an air tight flexible connection Lt3, and interposed between said controllers and a guidesrail or resistance rail stat, are runners 45 indented upon their inner surfaces by an air space 4G and partially embracing said guiding rail. The under surface ot rail Ll-et is also grooved throughout its length tor purposes ot lightness and to reduce its trictional bearineupon said runners, while the space between each controller and its respective runner t5 directly comn'uinicates with the pressure chamber rotfl, thus autos matically seating the controller valves, and at the same time serving to retard their too ready reciprocation. By preference these controller valves 3l and 35 together with their supporting frame and correlativo reciprocating parts are made ot hard rubber, but they may it desired be satisfactorily constructed of wood or ot' metal.

Projected forward trom each controller valve 34Y 35 in a convenient position at the front off the key board ttl are exposed tinger levers 47 whereby said controller valves and dependent parts may be reciprocated at will oiu the perl'ormer; while carried by each controller valve is an up 'ardly projecting tracers 4 8, a8 crossing` the music sheet in front ot the tracker board et tor a purpose which will now appear in connection with a statement ot operation.

Presuming all ports 5 ot the tracker board et to be closed by an iinpei"l"orate portion ot the music sheet l, also that a line c upon the tace ot such music sheet intersects the notes oit' a solo part as expressed by pertorations in said music sheet; furthermore presnmiug S to be an exhaust chamber, @it a pressure chamber, and likewise channels itl normally charged with action wind t'rom a wind trunk oi the instrument. Obviously, as tht` perforations ot sheet l come into register with ports 5 of the tracker board there is an llt) inflow of atmospheric pressure therethrough to those of the motor pneuinatics 7 with which such ports are directly connected causing these motors to be inflated as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This inflation of said motors, induced by the suction or exhaust from chamber 8 serves to alter the relative position of valves 14, and collapses the corresponding bellows valves 9 by exhausting the same through the aforesaid chamber 8. Certain of the valves 9 being thus lifted, open to the outside atmosphere the uppermost end of their corresponding borings or wind-ways 17, each of said valves thus guarding two of said ways, one in the first organ action bar 15 and one in the second organ action bar 16.

Normally the chamber 21 is open to the atmosphere, as shown by Fig. 1, with its diaphragm valves 22 also open to permit passage of the column of air contained in the first organ wind-way 17, so that in this manner the action tubes 19 leading from the first organ intermediate station (not shown) are vented and the corresponding musical pipes caused to speak producing the accompaniment as arranged upon the perforated sheet 1. If, however, it is desired to silence the first organ or accompaniment notes, the performer merely depresses piston 31, with the obvious result that the position of valves 26-27 is reversed and the pressure from unison release box 24 instantly employed to close all valves 22 in chamber 21, Similarly, wind ways 17 of the second organ action bar 16 are vented by passage of the music sheet and by agency of the interposed bellows valves 9 before described. Here, however, the membrane valves 33 are inclosed in independent pressure chambers 32 in order that they may be individually controlled, and are utilized to govern the release of action wind from action tubes 20 leading from the intormediate station (not shown) of the second or melody organ. Obviously this venting of the wind ways 17 in the action bar 1G depends upon two conditions, firstly, the bellows valves 9 must have been lifted, and secondly, the diaphragm valves 33 must have been released or opened. llhen, therefore, all vent borings 37 in the distributing bar 36 are spanned by pressure channels 41 of the controller valves 34 and 35 there is pressure in all ducts 39 and in all valve chambers 32, the valves 33 thus being held closed; but in the event that one or more of said borings 37 are uncovered by a partial reciprocation of either or both of the controller valves 34 or 35, conditions are immediately reversed. The corresponding valve chambers 32 are thereupon vented through ducts 39, borings 37 and 38 to the atmosphere, the valves 33 in such vented chambers are released or opened, and the action wind escapes thence from such of the wind vways 17 as may be uncovered, with the results before stated. The action last described is illustrated by the combined F '3 and 1 of the drawings, the former showing a single vent 33 between the partially separated controller valves 34--35 uncovered and opened to the atmosphere, and the latter, Fig. 1, illustrating the effect upon its corresponding membrane valve 33 in the uppermost of the three individual valve chambers 32 shown. The same operation and results apply to any and all of the individual valves of the second organ action bar 16 and correlativo parts,-so that it is possible thus to silence all notes of the second organ, or, on the contrary to pick out, and render available any particular notes for producing obligato or solo effects such as indicated by the zag line a in Fig. 4. Thus all notes of the accompaniment are ordinarily played upon the first organ precisely as they are presented by the perforations of the music sheet to the tracker board, the melody being simultaneously played by agency of the same perfcrations but upon the second organ. lVhen, however, occasion requires, all notes either of the accompaniment or the melody may be silenced at will of the operator as heretofore stated, and if desired the notes of the first organ may be silenced in octaves, provided the pressure chamber 21 is divided into independent compartments all connected with the unison release boX 24 precisely as shown in the present arrangement of the common chamber 21. Like wise, all notes of the second organ may be played when the valves 33 are released as aforesaid, or any number of such notes may be momentarily brought into action by agency of the controller valves 34-35 for purposes of emphasis.

W'hen, in the course of a written piece of music or perforated record sheet, solo parts occur, these, as indicated by line a Fig. 4, are traced out by the pointers 43 with the result that only the appropriate vents 37 are opened to the atmosphere one at a time in proper succession. ln other words, the controller valves 34-35 slightly separated as shown by Fig. 3, are moved simultaneously one way or the other as indicated by the grueling line a. In like manner the controller valve 34 may be leftin a position to silence upon the second organ all bass notes of the music by subjecting the corresponding diaphragm valves 33 to pressure as before described; while with the other controller valve 35 the operator may trace out and render available all treble notes as indicated upon the music sheet.

This being a general description of my present invention it should be understood that l do not limit myself to the precise arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, on the contrary inges aw d modilications thereoiE *will readily suggest themselves to tl skilled in tle aft ot oro' exanniale, in the present ill reciprccating controller valves are shown 'for governing the treble and lass parts ot the tracker range, respectively, but obvious these nriy be doubled in le th so that eitl ivilll control the entire range ot the tracker board. rind, again, the present illustrations provide mr operating' ou a combined suction or exhaust and pressure princiilile; but the saine opirf'ition and results may also be obtained b v eitner suction or pre sure alone.

Having;` thus lescribed my invention, what l claim and desire secure by Letters Fatent is:

l. ln a pneumatic action iter musical instruments, the combination ivith a plurality ot action bars, ot suitable ivindways through ich ot id bars arrange/l in series one for each div sion ot the instrument, individual valve chambers and valves Ytor each ot the ivindivays in one olI said bars, means Yfor reversing); the position ot said vznves by venting;l their respective valve chambers to the atmosphere, valves tor simultaneously opening' and closing;` one ot' said ivindvi in each series, and pneumatic motors under control ot a perforated music sheet t'or controlling' in turn the last mentioned valves.I substantially as described.

ln a pneumatic action Yl'or musical instruments, the combination with suitable vfind Vays and individual valves and valvechainbers theretor, ot an action controller comprising a slide valve provided with a pressure chamber, a distribillingI bar upon which the slide valve is mounted, a guide rail above the slide valve, a pneumatic bellows inte.- posed betiveen said valve and rail, and pneumatic connections whereby the aforesaid valve-chambers may be charged from the slide valve i'n'essure chamber or exhausted to the atmosphere, substantially as described.

3. lu a pneumatic action tor musical instruments, the combination With suitable Wind Yanis and individual valves and valvechambers therefor. or an action controller comprising` a pluralitv ot` slide valves cach provided u'ith a pres ure chan'iber, a distributing' bar upon which said valves are mounted, and piieun'nttic connections Whereby said valv'i-cliambers may be charged troni the pressure chambers of said reci procatino` valves or exhausted to the atmosphere, substantially as described,

ln a pneumatic action tor musical instruments, the con'ibination ivith suitable iviud ivays and individual valves and valve chambers therefor. an action controller comprising' a distributing bar communicatint;` with said Vvalve-chambers by independent ducts, a slide valve seated upon said bar t'or uncovering` one or more ot said ducts, a guide rail above, and an air cushion intervarious ein` nainbers and ingry a tustributi ,er bar coninuniicatini;l with said valve chambers by independent ducts, a slide valve mounted upon said bar it'or uucoverinn one or more ot said ducts, a resistance rail, an air cushion interposed between said rail and slide valve, and means for constantly chargingl both the 'alve and cushion .vith pressure, substantially as described.

(S. ln a pneumatic action for selt' playing;

musical instruments the combination with an intermediate station, ot' an action bar, suitable Xvind Ways in said bar tor communicating with said intermediate station, valves Wholly at one side ot said Windvfays lior `governing` the passage ot' action Wind through said iv ys, individual valve chambers inclosing` the valves havingno communication vvith the Windivays atoresaid, and a controller for operating said valves individually or collectively, substantially as described.

7. ln a pneumatic action 'for selt playingv musical instruments the combination with an intermediate station, oit an action bar, suitable wind ways through said bar tor con'ununicating with said intermediate station, valves Wholly at one side ot said vvind- Ways for governing' the passage of action ivind through said Ways, air tight individual valve chambers inclosing the valves having no communication with the .vindways atoresaid, and a sliding controller tor operating said valves individually or collectively, substantially described.

8. In a, pneumatic action tor selt' playing' musical instruments the combination Awith an intermediate station, of a melody action bar, suitable Wind Ways in said bar for communicating with said intermediate station, a perforated music sheet, valves Wholly at one side oit said win-always for governing the passage ot action Wind through said Ways, means for controlling said valves, and an additional valve under control ot the music sheet tor guarding' the outlet ot the ivind vvays aforesaid, substantially as described.

9. ln a pneumatic action for sel't playing musical instruments the combination With an intermediate station, oii an action bar, suitable ivind Ways through said bar for communicating Witn an intermediate station, a perforated music sheet, pneumatic motors under control of said sheet, and valves operatively controlled by said motors for guard ing the outlet of the Wind Ways aforesaid, substantially as described.

10. In a pneumatic action for self playing musical instruments the combination With intermediate stations, of a plurality of independent action bars, a series of Wind ways through each of said bars for communicating in series with the intermediate stations of their respective organ divisions, and valves under control of the music sheet each guarding one of said Wind Ways in all of said action bars, substantiallyT as described.

11. In a pneumatic action for self playing musical instruments the combination Wit-h intermediate stations, of melody and accompaniment action bars, suitable Wind Ways through each of said bars for communicating With the intermediate station of their respective organ divisions, internal valves for governing the passage of action Wind through said Ways, means for closing all internal valves of the accompaniment series, means for closing one or more internal valves of the melody series, and a series of external valves under control of the music sheet each guarding the outlet of a Wind Way in both action bars, substantially as de scribed.

12. A pneumatic action for musical in struments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination With a controller common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bar with each of the valves aforesaid, and an interior controller valve slidably seated upon said bar for uncovering and venting one or more of said ducts, substantially as described.

13. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination With a controller, common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bar With each of the valves aforesaid, and a hollow controller valve constantly charged With Wind pressure and slidably seated upon said bar for uncovering and venting one or more of said ducts, substantially as described.

14. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station. suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind vvays, in combination with a controller common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bar With each of the valves aforesaid, an interior controller valve slidably seated upon said bar for uncovering and venting one or more of said ducts, and a tracer carried by the controllervalve to indicate the extent of its reciprocation, substantially as described.

15. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination With a controller common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bar with each of the valves aforesaid, a controller-valve slidably seated upon said bar, a guide rail above, and an air cushion interposed between said rail and valve to maintain the latter in a seated position, substantially as described.

16. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said wind ways, in combination with a controller common to all of said valves com' prising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bars with each of the valves aforesaid, a controller-valve slidably seated upon said bar, a guide rail, a selfpacking` air cushion interposed between said rail and valve, and ports for constantly charging both the valve and cushion from a common source of Wind pressure, substantially as described.

17. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination With a conv troller common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting said bar With each of the valves aforesaid, a controller-valve slidably seated upon said bar, a superposed guide rail, a runner beneath said rail, an airtight flexible connection between said ruimer and controller valve, and ports for supplying air pressure to said controller-valve and runner, substantially as described.

18. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways, and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination with a cont-roller common to all of said valves comprising a perforated distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connecting each perforation of said bar With one of the valves aforesaid, and an interior controllervalve slidably seated upon said bar for normally covering the perforations aforesaid, substantially as described.

19. A pneumatic action for musical instruments including an intermediate station, suitable Wind Ways and a valve in each of said Wind Ways, in combination with a controller common to all of said valves comprising a distributing bar, independent ducts operatively connect-ing said bar With each of the valves aforesaid, a controller-valve slidably seated upon said bar, a superposed guide rail having a grooved under surface, a ruimer beneath said rail also having adepressed under surface, a flexible bellows connection between said runner and controller-valve, and ports for supplying air pressure to the interior of said controllervalve and runner7 substantially as described.

Q0. In al pneumatic act-ion for self-playing musical instruments the combination With intermediate stations, a perforated music sheet7 and a tracker board, of melody and accompaniment action bars, suitable wind ways through each ot said bars con'nnunicating vvith their respective imei-mediate stations, a valve wholly at one side ot each otl said Wind-Ways. individual valve chambers inclosingl the valves having no communication with the wind vays aforesaid, a controller common to all valves oitl said melody action bar comprisingl a distributing` ba r, independent ducts operatively connecting; the last named bar With each ot' the valves in said melody action bar, independent controller-valves seated upon the exterior ot said distributing bar, and means whereby said controller-valves may be reciprocated in opposite directions, substantially as described.

2l. ln a pneumatic action tor selt-playin musical instruments, the combination with a perforated music sheet, a tracker board and an intermediate station, ot first and seei ond organ action bars provided with suitable exhaust Wind Ways, arranged in coacting series, pneumatic bellows valves tor closing both series ot ivind Ways, pneumatic motors unde` control of said music sheet for controlling` in turn said bellows valves7 a universal release chamber coat-.ting \vith said tirst organ action bar. and individual pressure chambers reacting with said second organ action bar. substantially as described.

ln a pneumatix action lor musical instruments, the combination with a pertorated music sheet, a tracker board and an intermediate station, ot suitable vvind vvays communicating with said station. valve chambers and valves normally closing;y their respective wind Ways, means it`or reversing the position ot said 'alv-es by venting their chambers to the atmosphere, and additional bellows valves under control of the music sheet tor guarding' the outlet ot the vvind vays aforesaid, substantially as described.

.ln testimony whereof l atliX my signature, in presence ot tvvo subscribing` Witnesses.

Pilll'iiPl Tillltstlllti.

YYiiness-es:

Vhic. J. Trirnon, C. A. Rioimnnsox,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentsy Washington, Di C. 

